Improvement in automatic air-valve attachments for steam-cylinders



J. N. LA'UDER- A AUTOMATIC AIR-VALVE ATTACHMENT FOR STEAM CYLIINDERS.

Fig. 7.

' N-PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHWGTON. D c.

Patented Nov. 2, 1875.

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IINITED STATns JAMES N. LAUDER, OF CONCORD, ASSIGNOR TO 'HIMSELF ANDNATHAN P. STEVENS, OF HOPKINTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC AIR-VALVE ATTACHMENTS FOR STEAM-CYLINDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 69,452, datedNovember 2, 1875; application filed October 12, 1875.

I ings, of which Figure 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 a vertical andlongitudinal section, Fig. 3 a horizontal and longitudinal section, andFig. 4 a transverse section, of my improved automatic valve apparatus,as applied to the cylinder of a steam-engine and the steam chestthereof.

My apparatus, like that shown in Letters Patent No. 152,052, dated June16, 1874., and granted to Nathan P. Stevens, is automatic in its action,and has for its object the prevention of what is termed vacuumobstruction of the piston, when in movement in the cylinder, and steamis shut off from entering the same to drive the piston.

On the steam being shut off and the piston continuing to play in thecylinder, as it will in case of a locomotive-engine, while in motion ona railway, the valve of the automatic apparatus will be relieved fromdownward pressure, and at once, by its spring, will be thrown or forcedup or off its seat, so as to open free communication between those partsof the bore of the cylinder which are on opposite ends of thepiston-head, in which a case the piston will travel freely in thecylinder without such vacuum obstruction.

In carrying out my invention I have dispensed with passages through thevalve of the automatic apparatus, and with valves to such passages, asin said Stevens apparatus, and I have extended from the upper part ofthe valve-chest of the said apparatus to the steam-chest of the cylindera tube, to open communication between the two, from which it will beseen'that the valve, so long as the steam may not be shut ofi, willalways be left closed upon its seat by the pressure of steam from thesteam-chest, and thus close communication between the spaces that, inthe cylinder, are against opposite ends of the piston.

In case of the steam being shut off or estopped from entering thesteam-chest of the cylinder, the valve of the automatic apparatus willbe relieved from pressure, so as to be forced off its seat by itsspring, and thereby open communication between the cylinderspaces atopposite ends of the piston.

Furthermore, there is applied to the :automatic valve-chest, twopassages leading out of its arcal chambers, situated below itsvalveseat, and into the bore of a case of a rotary valve, provided withcorresponding inlet-passages, the purpose of which additions being toenable water or steam.to be discharged from the cylinder, ascircumstances may require. y

In the drawings, A denotes the steam-engine cylinder, and B its steam orslide valve chest. The automatic valve-chest is shown at 0, its valve atD, its pipes for connecting it with the cylinder at its opposite endsbeing represented at 'E E. These latter lead directly from two arealchambers, a a, situated below and opening through the valve-seat 1).

Between these chambers is a cylindrical chamber, c, in which is placed ahelical spring, d, for aiding in forcing the valve D off its seat. Thepipe for connecting the space 6 of the chest 0 with the steam-chest B ofthe cylinder is shown at P. v

The waste-water passages leading from the areal chambers into the bore fof the cock-case F. are shown at g g, the correspondingdischarge-passages of the cook or plug G being exhibited at h h. Bytaking hold of the handle 1; of the plug, and turning the latter, thepassages It may be brought into or out of connection with the passages gg.

With the pipe I? there is no absolute necessity of the spring (I to theautomatic valve 0, as the apparatus will operate without the spring; butsuch spring is a useful auxiliary, as it aids to throw the valve off,and it also keeps it still or in place while it is off its seat.

I herein make no claim to the automatic valve apparatus constituting theinvention of the said Stevens, as described and claimed in his saidpatent.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of the pipe P withthe D, spring 01, and pipes E E, all arranged and steam-engine cylinderA, valve-chest B, automatic valve-chest 0, its valve D, and the pipes EE, all being arranged and applied substantially as and to operate asspecified.

2. The combination of the pipe P, steamengine cylinder A, valve-chests Band O, valve applied essentially in manner and to operate as explained.I

JAMES N. LAUDER.

Witnesses:

HENRY O. MINoT, LUTHER W. NICHOLS.

